Language, Custom and the making of Place

A map is showing Australian indigenous places, like Europe, 
divided by cultural differences and language.

Language, culture and the making of Place

              Language, cultural and space / areas, are recognized as contributors that make a Place. Language describes an environment, geographical features, and provides social expression between people occupying a particular space, region or area. Social interaction and feelings are in most cases by spoken word, which is language. A geographic area, occupied by a group, that over time, evolve with their spoken word and language to include new expressions and items that are discoveries in time. The way people think, as they discover their environment and identify features, like rivers, mountains, lakes, and beaches, they will change speech and language. These progressive changes express a creative side in language, implying possessive ownership of a geographical region. Benjamin Whorf  called this in the early 1900's, linguistic relativity.

          A particular group of  Eskimos in Canada has multiple words for snow. Indigenous people in Finland, Sweden, and Norway have hundreds of words for snow. “Worlds in which different societies live are distinct worlds, not merely the same world with different labels attached.” (Sapir 1958). Oral and written language combined with symbols are known to have encouraged early explorers to controlled geographical regions with the aim of dispossessing all local inhabitants. Practices like that were a common occurrence during periods of discovery, (1450-1715), the Enlightenment (1715-1789), and Romantic Period (1800-1850). Colonizing, destroying and disenfranchised people in many countries, including Australia. In Australia, Aboriginal people have an earthbound philosophy which is not dissimilar to other ancient people. Earth provides man with all necessities to survive successfully dependent upon prevailing environmental conditions in the area in which he is dwelling. A man's country, even if not occupied or used, is sacred to Aboriginals. Their culture demands they treat their environment including animals with respect as is manifested in "Dream Time."

Word count, 299, excluding references

References:

Map retrieved from: http://www.rupert.id.au/maps/index.php

Chatwin, B. (1987), The Songlines, Australian Aborigines—Social Life and Customs,

                                   Spartan Press Ltd, Lymington, Hants, UK

Tuan, Y.F, (1991), Language and the Making of Place: A Narrative – Descriptive Approach,

                                 Association of American Geographers, Vol.81, No. 4, pp.684- 696.

                                 Taylor & Francis on behalf of the Association of American Geographers. 

Chatwin, B. (1987), The Songlines. Australian aborigines---Social life and customs

                                   Jonathan Cape Ltd Bedford Square London UK